For Meron and Rora

Before you
there was manipulation
and foul toxicity
coursing through
every sound that emanated
from the mouths of
used-to-be friends

Then we came together
and greeted each other with warmth
and knowing smiles
where conversations travelled
down long, thick roots;
and shared perspectives
were pick at and turned over
in endless, syrup time
(just how we like it);
and laughter spilled with our tears
in cozy places in Vancouver
over steaming cups of tea

Dear friend you are light
and tears and laughter
and everything in between

We’ve stretched this love,
our friendship, from Vancouver
all the way to Toronto;
and we’ve built us up
with a strong cord,
an unbreakable bond
that I wear around my neck
like a string of creamy white pearls